Current Events

Cash for Clunkers is Wasteful

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Cash for Clunkers is bringing people into dealerships again and that’s a great thing, right? There’s no doubt that it’s a popular program. Now that Congress has approved another $2 billion infusion, shouldn’t we begin to evaluate the program?

The program offers drivers who trade in qualifying vehicles up to a $4,500 credit toward a new, more fuel-efficient car from participating dealers. The government reimburses dealers. The goal is to promote fuel efficiency and stimulate the very weak automotive industry. It comes in the wake of the controversial automotive industry bailout.

It’s unclear who exactly benefits from the program, however. The Washington Post reported that 4 out of 5 cars being bought are foreign made. Top sellers include Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Toyota Prius and Toyota Camry. It’s a shame that Cash for Clunkers isn’t directly helping the American manufacturers who received the government bailouts.

This program’s wasteful elements disturb me most. The program mandates that these clunkers are demolished within 180 days. Why not reuse and recycle? Many of these cars are still drivable and could easily serve someone in need of transportation. There are many in need today. But due to the government mandate, these cars can’t be reused. The government advises that car dealers replace a trade-in’s, now termed a clunker’s, engine oil with a sodium silicate solution. This lethal injection of liquid glass renders the car inoperable. It’s a waste of resources and that speaks volumes about the program’s lack of foresight. Recent videos of a Volvo and a Mercedes being destroyed as part of the program have begun to fuel outrage.

Our 2002 Jeep Liberty would have qualified as a clunker. We opted to sell it to a college student for just $2,000 rather than utilize the Cash for Clunkers program. Our Jeep hasn’t been destroyed. Instead, it’s being used to transport someone to and from his job and classes. Isn’t this a better stimulus program?

Don’t Worry, The Cookie Monster Remains Essentially The Same

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Yesterday on The View, the ladies thought it was absurd that the Cookie Monster would be appearing in a Healthy Eating PSA with Agriculture Secretary Vilsack . The PSA was produced with Sesame Workshop and features Cookie Monster, Vilsack and Broccoli talking about the importance of eating a “rainbow” of foods (especially fruits and vegetables) everyday. What’s wrong with that?

When PBS announced first announced it would be making some changes in its 35th season of Sesame Street in 2006, many people rushed to criticize. The thing that raised the greatest alarm was that the Cookie Monster would now advocate healthier eating. This is association between the Cookie Monster and healthier eating isn’t exactly news.

So many of us have grown up on Sesame Street that we feel we know the Cookie Monster and his now famous song “C is for Cookie, That’s Good Enough for Me.” There is no need to panic, however. That song won’t change, nor will the Cookie Monster character. Sesame Street emphasizes “Healthy Habits for Life” in an effort to combat soaring childhood obesity rates. The Cookie Monster simply eats fewer cookies and along with the rest of the monsters on the show and the millions of children watching at home, will learn about healthy foods and physical activity.

He does have another song now too. “A Cookie is a Sometimes Food” will help illustrate that there is a difference between a “sometimes” food and an “anytime” food. Talking vegetables and guest stars are also involved in the new healthy themes. This is something that will benefit both children and even many parents.

Rather than rush to criticize, tune in and realize that Sesame Street is doing exactly what it has done to be so successful over the past 39 years, it is changing to best reach today’s children. Without this modernization, Sesame Street would just be an old relic. I look forward to these and other changes.

Most adults do fear change. One of Sesame Street’s goals has been to help children adjust to unavoidable and sometimes upsetting changes. When the actor (Will Lee) who played Mr. Hooper died in 1982, a Sesame Street episode delicately and honestly addressed the fact that that Mr. Hooper would not be coming back. Like real family members who die, he was not replaced by another character or forgotten. His store remains and Big Bird still has a picture of him above his nest. After 9/11, Sesame Street focused an episode on overcoming loss. A grease fire at Hooper’s Store addressed fear. Firefighters rushed in to save the store and Elmo learned a great deal about the admirable work firefighters perform.

Childhood obesity is a serious issue and we should applaud the producers for addressing it. Times evolve and the show must evolve with it. Thank you Sesame Street for remembering your audience and for not taking us for granted.

It’s Back to School Time for Adults

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The 4th of July has just passed, yet most stores are now promoting Back to School sections. It might seem too early, but many adults are also considering a return to the classroom. In today’s economy, it’s important to refresh your skills, beef up your resume and possibly finish that degree you began many years ago.

President Obama is hoping to make that easier with his new American Graduation Initiative which he announced on July 14. He’s asked every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training and set a new national goal: by 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.

There are more adult education programs today than there have ever been and that’s great news to anyone considering a return to college. TV, radio and billboard advertisements bombard us with options of returning to school.

Can these programs really work and fit into an already busy life? Are there means available to help pay for them? Yes, not only do these programs work, they are much more beneficial to the working adult than the traditional student.

Online programs are one option available to the working adult. These programs appeal to many because students are only required to meet in a physical classroom minimally if at all. This is quite attractive for those who frequently travel or would like to learn during odd hours. Don’t be misled, however. Online programs can often be much more demanding than traditional classes. You are not guaranteed immediate or in some cases even timely feedback from instructors. This may be frustrating and detrimental. You will be free to learn from the privacy of your own home, office, car or even while traveling overseas.

Accelerated programs are a fantastic option for those who are highly motivated and want to complete their degree as quickly as possible. Students may only need to commit to going to class one night a week and could complete an entire course in just five to eight weeks. Accelerated programs like these often require group collaboration on projects and move at a very rapid pace.

Blended programs offer the best of both the traditional and online classes. Many universities are including this hybrid as a way to entice would be students.

So if you have considered going back to school, now is the time.

Here’s the link to my segment on the Morning Blend discussing this topic:
http://tinyurl.com/m6zgf8

Mommy Makeovers

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The joys of motherhood are endless. Getting a pre-pregnancy body back is often a joyless experience, however. When exercise and dieting aren’t enough, many women turn to surgical and non-surgical options to repair the physical damage done by pregnancy. These procedures are often called “mommy makeovers.”

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, breast augmentation was the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure last year, with 348,000 performed — up 6 percent since 2006. Of those, about two-thirds were for women older than 30 who often opt for implants to restore lost volume in their breasts due to pregnancy weight gain.

Adominoplasty (frequently called a tummy tuck) removes loose skin and tightens the abdomen. Nationally, there were 148,000 tummy tucks — up 1 percent from 2006. This cosmetic procedure results in a flatter, tighter-looking stomach.

Many patients getting tummy tucks and breast lifts or augmentations combine these procedure. They can cost $14,000 or more and require six weeks of recovery.

For those not interested in the health risks or the high cost of cosmetic surgery, there are nonsurgical options that are noninvasive, less costly and require no down time. With the help of lasers, chemical peels and technology, women have many options for restoring their bodies.

Some options include Thermage™, which rejuvenates the skin from the inside out using radiofrequency energy to the deep layers of the skin and its underlying tissue. After the procedure, the collagen contracts and remodels over time providing tighter and healthier skin. VelaSmooth™ is another option that reduces cellulite using a combination of bi-polar frequency, infrared light, and tissue mobilization.

For more information on your own “mommy makeover” contact:

Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Specialists
Wauwatosa & Mequon
414-443-0033
http://www.idealu.cc

Estetika Skin and Laser Specialists
Mequon
262-240-0655
http://www.estetikaskin.com

Wisconsin MediSpa
Peewaukee
262-746-9088
http://www.wimedispa.com

Guilt Free Children’s TV

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My children watch television and I don’t feel guilty about it. My husband and I watch an impressive amount of television. It’s a source of entertainment and education for us all. If chosen carefully, there is great value in today’s children’s programming.

Sesame Street has been the standard for excellence on which all other children’s shows are measured and it continues to be an amazing resource. PBS Kids has several other new valuable shows as well. My favorites include WordGirl, Sid the Science Kid, and Electric Company.

WordGirl features the adventures of Becky Botsford from the Planet Lexicon. She goes about life as an average 5thgrader until she transforms into WordGirl when she needs to fight crime and help others with vocabulary. WordGirl is aided by her monkey sidekick Captain Huggy Face. The villains are also inspired and include The Butcher, Lady Redundant Woman, Granny May, Doctor Two Brains and Chuck the Evil Sandwich Making Guy. Each episode introduces new vocabulary words and uses them in context several times, so that children really do learn to love and appreciate the power of words. PBS has ordered 26 more episodes for fall 2009.

Sid the Science Kid encourages children to investigate the world around them and in the process, introduces children to science. Sid is an inquisitive preschooler and each episode begins with a practical question like, “Why are my shoes shrinking?” Sid learns the answers to these questions through the help of his parents, teacher and friends. Children learn to make sense of the world around them and children continue to ask questions when the show is over.

The Electric Company debuted in January and has been extremely popular. PBS announced it will air episodes daily this fall. It is a remake of its 1970s version and still uses an urban setting and successfully integrates music and dancing in each episode. The Electric Company teaches phonics in those iconic silhouetted faces and the familiar “Hey, you guys!” is also used in each episode. Catchy songs like “Silent E is a Ninga” engage parents and children alike. Similar to Sesame Street, The Electric Company also has impressive celebrity guest appearances on the show including Jimmy Fallon, Wyclef Jean, Common and Tiki Barber.

Given the options today, the commercial–free, highly structured and often witty programs on PBS Kids blow away mind numbing and whiny episodes of Barney, Teletubbies and Caillou. Avoiding the thinly veiled commercial programs gives parents and children guilt free choices for 30 minute respites.

What’s Your Diet Type?

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What’s Your Diet Type? I’ll bet no one has asked you that question before. Heather K. Jones, a registered dietician has written a book, What’s Your Diet Type? Use the Power of Your Personality to Determine Your Best Way to Lose Weight, with a fresh take on an old problem. Based on the traditional Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, this book helps you discover your eating personality.

Are you a player, planner, feeler or thinker? What’s Your Diet Type? explains that our individual personality and the preferences associated with it can actually help us determine a successful plan for losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. We are not all the same and finally, a diet book both acknowledges and embraces that. While certain personality traits may be holding us back, Jones offers practical solutions that work to overcome our obstacles.

Once you determine your diet type, follow the plan that best suits your personality. Jones says, “The right approach will work with your schedule and compliment the way you live. The right approach will take advantage of your strengths and help you build healthy habits that will fit effortlessly into your lifestyle.”

What’s Your Diet Type? is written in a conversational tone that make it easy to read. It offers practical, tailor-made advice for healthy eating in any season.

Creating Empathy for Elderly

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With the baby boomers now rapidly joining AARP, there are 35 million adults over the age of 65 in the United States today and that number will increase to 70 million in the next 20 years. Clearly, elder care is big business. Quality of that care is a major concern, however. State of the art facilities are important, but caretakers are the ones who implement care and many need additional training to learn empathy and understanding for their patients.

It’s one thing to be sympathetic and quite another to be empathetic. When it comes to caring for the elderly, empathy is better than sympathy because it implies feeling with a person in a collaborative sense, rather than feeling sorry for a person in a more distant sense.

Organizations are rushing to train caretakers in the art of empathy and the best way to do that is to give them some experience with the feelings associated with being elderly.

Participants in the Xtreme Aging workshops at the Macklin Intergenerational Institute actually get that opportunity. Activities include those designed to create the confusion stroke victims experience and the physical limitations associated with aging. Participants perform routine tasks wearing gloves with a couple fingers taped together to simulate arthritis, coated eyeglasses to mimic visual impairment, cotton stuffed ears to copy the effects of hearing loss and kernels of corn in their shoes to imitate the pain felt as a result of the loss of fatty tissue.

Simulations are so very valuable because they help create empathy and in doing so also diminish ageism. It’s nearly impossible to really “walk a mile in someone else’s shoes,” but workshops like these sure come close to getting to experience another person’s reality.